Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards 2009 Cote del Sol Cabernet Chosen as Top Wine in the Competition

It has been chosen by this year’s Cabernet Shootout judging panel as one of the top wines tasted in the San Francisco wine competition.

According to Lucas & Lewellen veteran viticulturist, Louis Lucas, “Our placement in the Cabernet Shoot-Out proves that Santa Barbara County can produce excellent Cabernet Sauvignon.” Having grown the grapes and supervised the winemaking, he can clarify the character of this wine. Louis continued, “Cabernet Sauvignon COTE DEL SOL”, is a custom wine developed in the vineyard with a little ingenuity and close attention to which vines and rows produce the best flavors. One day, it was my instinct to add a few bushels of Syrah to each bin of Cabernet Sauvignon. The results have been this special, award winning wine.”

Megan McGrath Gates, winemaker for Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, added, “The cabernet grapes arrived at the winery from our estate vineyards, in pristine condition. They were naturally full of the flavors and other important components that are necessary to make great wine.”

In addition to the above honor, Lucas & Lewellen’s 2009 Valley View Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon -Santa Barbara County, was also awarded a 90 point score. This wine is a claret style blend including the 5 Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.

The 7th Annual Cabernet Shootout judging panel of 26 men and 15 women had the pleasure of tasting Cabernets from 41 different appellations. Judges for this year’s Cabernet Shoot-Out were composed of regional and nationally known wine critics, purveyors, winemakers, sommeliers, and industry experts.

The Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards Tasting Room is located at 1645 Copenhagen Drive-Solvang, CA – open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m – open later on weekends.

For more information, call 805-686-9336, or visit www.LLwine.com.